Monthly Archives: August 2005

I’ve been searching the web, unsuccessfully, to find out what the going rate is for paying a bellydance troupe to perform at a renaissance faire. I know there are a lot of factors that impact the pay, but is there someone who has any personal experience or knowledge in this area that would be willing to share this information? Perhaps, it is a taboo to discuss this? I have found web articles on what professional bellydancers should charge, but nothing that relates specifically to renaissance festivals.

Nerissa is good people. Don’t let Bellydance in Baltimore turn into the Music Business in Baltimore.

[Copying this from the email, sorry this took so long to get posted…]

Good Morning Fellow Dancers, It’s official, Baltimore Bellydance is closed (temporarily, we hope!!). We are deeply in the red and need support from the community to stay open!

Please visit www.baltimorebellydance.com to join at the subscriber, teacher or performer level…. We need all the support we can get so forward this to your friends…..

The website and operations will be closed until 9/1 – hopefully we’ll be back with a vengance then… I’m working on a super cool new website (it’s great!) with new pages for teachers, peformers, etc… BUT, if we don’t raise enough money to support the website and newsletter, BBD will close it’s doors…

We LOVE the ideas about shows, etc… but if we don’t raise some cash now — we won’t be around then!

Now that everyone that’s performing should know… here’s the space to organize rides needed and seats available to and from Rakkasah East 2005 (October 14 through 16) rooms or couches to share and anything else that comes up. Post comments with anything you need or have available for people attending Rakkasah.

I’ll update this with specific performers and other information as I get it. In the meantime, the page is yours…Continue reading →

Liz, a Brazilian producer of lingerie, developed a line of underwear and bras inspired on belly dancing. The products were released in May this year and can already be found in the Arab countries. “The dance is an icon of femininity,” stated Lígia Buonamici Costa, the company operations director and creator of the product.

The company has an exclusive representative in Lebanon, and he has over 100 clients. The same representative is responsible for the sale of Brazilian lingerie in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Exports to Lebanon began in September 2003.

The Sahaja dance style takes two forms: either choreographed and based on belly dancing movements or a spontaneous expression of creativity.

Sahaja is a word without an equivalent word in English.

“It’s easier to say what Sahaja is not, than to describe what it is,” explained Kenton. “Sahaja is not karma — it is the opposite of karma. Karma has to do with intentional action. Sahaja is intentionless action. It is pure motion.”

The scene transports you to another time and place. The music seems to chant an ancient prayer and the costumes, made of flowing silks and chiffon, elaborately decorated with beads and coins, speak of elegance and ornate beauty. The movements — of the hands, hips, arms — appear to be speaking their own language. You are suddenly in ancient Egypt, in a gypsy tribe, watching a sacred ritual take place before your eyes. Or are you?